P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has admitted Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut even got him “excited” as he branded the partnership a “historic” one for F1.
Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated venture with Ferrari started last month, including his first on-track outing in red with a successful first week. After engaging with various departments at Maranello and a seat fitting, the British driver completed 30 laps at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in the 2023-spec SF-23 car. The event drew global attention, with over a thousand spectators lining vantage points to witness the historic moment. McLaren’s team principal Stella, who previously worked at Ferrari, commended Hamilton’s introduction to the team at the Autosport Awards. While the combination of Hamilton and Ferrari has been praised by Red Bull’s Christian Horner as “box office”, the focus remains on on-track performance, with expectations high for the upcoming season. Despite a minor setback when he crashed during testing in Barcelona, Hamilton is in high spirits and eagerly awaiting his debut race with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix next month.
